Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Inappropriate use has been identified as a huge waste of healthcare resources -- and medical imaging has been recognized as a major contributor to the problem. In a new article in our Imaging Leaders Community, we describe how Johns Hopkins Hospital is tackling the problem.
Hopkins a few years ago began a major effort to identify those imaging exams that were judged to contribute the least to patient care, and convince referring physicians to refrain from ordering them. The result? You'll have to click here to find out.
Is there a fox in your billing henhouse?
While you're in the community, check out a column by John Stiles of HealthPro Medical Billing on how to ensure that a fox isn't guarding your billing henhouse. Mr. Stiles recommends several actions you can take to "trust but verify" that your billing manager is on the up-and-up.
Get these stories and more by visiting the Imaging Leaders Community at leaders.auntminnie.com.
Ultrasound of atherosclerosis
Meanwhile, in our Ultrasound Community, we're highlighting a new study in which ultrasound was used to find a connection between subclinical atherosclerosis and reduced mental cognition.
Researchers found that people who had a combination of factors -- higher carotid intima-media thickness on ultrasound and a certain version of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene -- also had lower levels of mental function than people without those factors. Learn more by clicking here, or visit the community at ultrasound.auntminnie.com.
